Furniture Protector against Crawling Arthropods

ABSTRACT

A barrier device to prevent crawling arthropods such as bedbugs from accessing an item of furniture, said barrier device comprising a furniture riser, a deep fluid-filled moat, and a smooth wall around the moat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application takes priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/982,978, filed Apr. 23, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to pest control devices, and more specifically relates to barrier devices for protecting furniture against crawling arthropods.

2. Background of the Invention

Crawling arthropod pests such as Cimes Lectularius (bedbugs) are a major nuisance in everyday life. Considering how prevalent bedbug infestations are, there is a huge need for any devices and methods that can prevent, treat, or control such an infestation.

A commonly used trap design for crawling arthropods is a “pit fall” trap. Typically, such a pit fall trap has a gently gradated upward slope and a sharp drop into a “pit” area; the insect is expected to crawl up the upward slope and drop into the pit. Such traps are commonly used to prevent crawling arthropods from getting into pet food dishes, for example.

One flaw with such “pit fall” devices is that often, crawling arthropods do not voluntarily drop down into the confinement area or “pit”—instead, they find another way to access their goal. For example, if the device is used under a furniture support, for example a bed frame, the crawling arthropod can simply avoid the “pit fall” and find another way to gain access to its food source. For example, it could use bed sheets, blankets, or other furniture accessories that are in contact with both the furniture and the floor, to gain access to the furniture.

Another flaw of the “pit fall” devices is that when crawling arthropods do drop down into the confinement area or “pit” of the trap, they can often escape. Such devices incorporate smooth short interior walls, which can allow an insect to escape by either sinking its tarsal hooks into the side of the containment or “pit” wall and pull itself out, or by using the build-up of debris or other insects within the trap to find traction and climb out over an exterior or further interior wall and gain access to the furniture support.

A need therefore exists for a furniture protector that can effectively trap crawling arthropods such as bedbugs, prevent the crawling arthropods from escaping the trap once they are trapped, and prevent the crawling arthropods from circumventing the furniture protector and gaining access to the furniture by other means such as drapery, upholstery, bed linens, or other furniture accoutrements that are in contact with both the furniture and the floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to prevent crawling arthropods from accessing an item of furniture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that traps crawling arthropods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that traps crawling arthropods and prevents them from circumventing the device.

The present invention comprises a furniture riser surrounded by a deep moat. The riser is preferably at least 3 inches high so that draperies, bedclothes, and other furniture accessories cannot reach the floor and thus allow crawling arthropods to circumvent the device. The moat is formed by a wall that is attached to the bottom edge of the riser in a watertight fashion, so that the moat space between the wall and the riser can be filled with a fluid.

The riser surface is preferably smooth enough that a crawling arthropod cannot climb up the riser surface to access the furniture. In an embodiment, the riser surface may also be coated with a slippery material such as oil or talcum powder to prevent crawling arthropods from climbing up the riser surface.

The fluid can be any fluid that can form a meaningful barrier to the progress of a crawling arthropod, such as oil, water, sugared water, or soapy water. The moat is preferably at least 2″ deep and at least 5″ wide, to prevent a crawling arthropod from escaping even when a reasonable number of crawling arthropods are already in the moat.

The wall of the moat is preferably concave on the outside, to prevent crawling arthropods from crawling up the wall. It could also be cylindrical. In an embodiment, the wall has a horizontal section and a vertical section, the horizontal section parallel to the top surface of the riser and the vertical section approximately perpendicular to the horizontal section. The vertical section can be concave on the outside, cylindrical, or any other shape.

The wall of the moat is preferably smooth so that a crawling arthropod cannot climb up it. Either the inside of the wall, the outside of the wall, or both, could be smooth. In the preferred embodiment, the surface roughness of the wall is 100 microinches or less.

The riser may be hollow (similar to a standard furniture riser) or solid. In an embodiment, the wall and riser are made of the same piece of material. In another embodiment, the riser and the wall are made of separate pieces of material and removably attached to each other.

The top surface of the riser may comprise elements that enable a furniture leg to securely rest on it, such as a lip around the edge of the top surface, or a peg that fits into a hole in the furniture leg.

In an embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the riser is larger on the bottom than it is on the top, to improve stability.

In an embodiment, the height of the riser is adjustable. This adjustability may be accomplished by means of a screw jack that enables the height of the riser to be changed, or by means of a removable height adjustment block that attaches to the top surface.

In an embodiment, the furniture riser of the present invention further comprises a light-emitting device that emits a light of a frequency that attracts at least one species of crawling arthropods. In another embodiment, the furniture riser of the present invention further comprises a pheromone emitting device that emits a pheromone that attracts at least one species of crawling arthropods.

LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the furniture riser of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the furniture riser of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For purposes of the present disclosure, a “piece of furniture” or a “furniture item” is any furniture that may need to be protected against bedbugs or other crawling arthropods. For example, such furniture items may be couches, beds, armchairs, chairs, loveseats, cribs, and other soft furniture items; dressers, wardrobes, and other furniture items containing clothing or other soft goods; tables and kitchen furniture that may need to be protected against crawling arthropods that may otherwise get into food items placed on the furniture; and any other furniture item that may need to be protected against crawling arthropods such as bedbugs, ants, cockroaches, and other pests.

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Riser 100 is a plastic hollow riser with a circular cross-section, preferably made of ABS, polyethylene, or any other plastic capable of supporting the weight of a piece of furniture. A lip 110 is present around the top of the top surface of the riser to facilitate alignment and stability of a piece of furniture placed on the riser. In an alternate embodiment, a peg (not shown) can protrude from the top surface of the riser; this facilitates alignment and stability for furniture legs that have corresponding holes in the bottom. The riser may be any height as long as it raises the piece of furniture to a sufficient height to keep bedclothes and other hanging items from touching the floor, while still leaving the piece of furniture usable. Typically, a height between 3″-8″ is sufficient, though other heights may also be possible, depending on the piece of furniture and how it is used.

The cross-sectional area of the bottom of the riser is preferably higher than the cross-sectional area of the top of the riser, to improve stability. In an embodiment, however, the bottom of the riser has the same cross-sectional area and shape as the top of the riser. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in the figure, the slope of the wall of the riser may increase with the height of the riser, so that the bottom of the riser is still larger than the top of the riser, while the top section of the riser wall is nearly vertical to prevent crawling arthropods from crawling up the riser.

In the preferred embodiment, the riser has a circular cross-section, as shown in the Figure; however, it may also have a rectangular or square cross-section or any other shape of cross-section as long as the top surface of the riser can accommodate a typical furniture leg and the bottom surface of the riser is stable on the ground.

Wall 120 is connected to the bottom edge of the riser and is generally concave on the outside, as shown. This prevents crawling arthropods from crawling up the surface. In an alternate embodiment, the wall is cylindrical and approximately vertical. In other embodiments, the wall can be convex or any other shape as long as it can contain the moat. The wall thickness is preferably thick enough to prevent it from flexing too much when being filled, to avoid spillage. In the preferred embodiment, the wall 120 is smooth so that crawling arthropods cannot get a grip on the surface. Preferably, the surface roughness of the wall is a mirror finish (0-50 microinches) or a satin finish (50-60 microinches). The surface roughness of the riser may be similar to prevent any arthropods from crawling up the riser if they do manage to make it across the moat.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the Figure, moat 200 fills the space between the wall 120 and the riser 100. In the preferred embodiment, the moat 200 is deep enough so that crawling arthropods cannot get through it even after a significant quantity of dead arthropods are in the moat already. This is a problem with fluid barrier devices in the prior art; most such fluid barrier devices do not provide a barrier anymore after a certain number of dead arthropods are already drowned in the fluid. The moat of the present invention is sufficiently deep that it can remain effective for a much longer time.

The moat can be filled with any fluid, though it should preferably be non-toxic to humans or household pets and non-staining in case of spills. In the preferred embodiment, the fluid is water. Soap may be added to the water to decrease surface tension and make it easier for the crawling arthropods to drown. In an alternate embodiment, sugar is added to the water to make it more attractive to the crawling arthropods. In an alternate embodiment, alcohol may be used, as it has a lower surface tension. In another embodiment, oil or grease may be used to increase the chances that a crawling arthropod would be unable to climb out of the liquid. A gel or glycerol-based liquid may also be used.

The side surface of the riser may be coated with a fluid or lubricating powder substance to increase its slipperiness. Such substances may be graphite powder, oil, glycerin, grease, or any other substances that are used to decrease friction. The coating is preferably nontoxic to humans or household pets and non-staining.

While the preferred embodiment of the device is made of plastic, other materials may also be used, such as plastic, metal, or wood, as long as the material is waterproof and has a smooth enough finish to prevent crawling arthropods from crawling out of the moated section. Similarly, while the preferred embodiment of the device is hollow, the present invention does not require it. The riser may be a solid piece of wood, plastic, or metal.

In an embodiment, the height of the riser is adjustable. This enables a user to pick the maximum possible height for the riser while still leaving the furniture item usable. In an embodiment (not shown), the riser may comprise a height adjustment block attachable to the top surface of the riser. The height adjustment block may be attached to the riser by means of a peg, or may fit within the lip on the top surface of the riser. Different sizes of height adjustment blocks may be available.

In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the height of the riser may be adjustable from the bottom instead of the top. A block that exceeds the surface area of the bottom of the riser may be stacked under the riser to raise it. Different sizes and shapes of block may be available depending on height needs.

In an embodiment, the riser may be stackable, and several of these risers may be stacked together to increase the height of the device. In such a situation, all the moats may be filled with a fluid, or only the top moat may be filled.

Some arthropods, such as fleas, are attracted to light. In an embodiment, the furniture riser comprises a light of a frequency that is most attractive to a particular species of arthropod. Such a light may be an LED, a light bulb, luminescent paint, or any other light-emitting device or module that can emit sufficient light of the right frequency to attract an arthropod. The light may be placed inside the furniture riser if the furniture riser is made of transparent or translucent material, on the outside of the furniture riser, or inside the moat.

Some arthropods are attracted to pheromones. In an embodiment, the furniture riser comprises a pheromone that is designed to attract a particular species of crawling arthropods. In an embodiment, multiple pheromones may be present to attract multiple species of crawling arthropods. The pheromones may be added to the fluid in the moat or may be used to coat the material of the wall or the riser.

Exemplary embodiments are described above. It will be understood that the present invention encompasses other equivalents that are apparent to one of reasonable skill in the art, and is limited only by the appended claims. 

1. A crawling arthropod barrier device, comprising: a riser, said riser having a top surface capable of supporting a furniture leg, a bottom edge, and a riser side surface, wherein the top surface is at least 3″ from the bottom edge; a wall, said wall attached to the bottom edge of the riser in such a way as to form a watertight moat around the bottom edge of the riser; a fluid filling the moat.
 2. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the riser side surface is smooth enough that a crawling arthropod cannot climb up the side surface.
 3. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 2, wherein the riser side surface is coated with a slippery substance.
 4. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 3, wherein the slippery substance is one of the following group: a lubricating (friction-reducing) powder or liquid.
 5. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the fluid is one of the following group: water, oil, sugared water, soapy water, grease, gel, alcohol, glycerol based liquid.
 6. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the moat is at least 2″ in depth and at least 5″ in width.
 7. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the wall is concave on the outside.
 8. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the wall is cylindrical.
 9. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the wall has a horizontal section and a vertical section, the horizontal section being parallel to the top surface and the vertical section being approximately perpendicular to the horizontal section.
 10. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the wall comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface is smooth enough that a crawling arthropod cannot climb up it.
 11. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the riser is hollow.
 12. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 11, wherein the wall and the riser are made of one piece of material.
 13. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the riser is separate from the wall and removably attached to the wall.
 14. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the riser comprises a lip around the edges of the top surface.
 15. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the riser comprises a bottom cross-section, wherein the area of the bottom cross-section is greater than the area of the top surface.
 16. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, wherein the height of the riser is adjustable.
 17. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 16, wherein the riser comprises a height adjustment block that removably attaches to the top surface, said height adjustment block comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the bottom surface of the height adjustment block resting on the top surface of the riser, and the top surface of the height adjustment block comprising a lip around the edge of the top surface of the height adjustment block.
 18. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 11, wherein the riser comprises an inner lip on an inner surface of the riser, said inner lip of a size and shape that enables it to rest on the top surface of a second riser when the riser is stacked on top of a second crawling arthropod barrier device.
 19. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, further comprising: a light-emitting device that emits a light of a frequency that attracts at least one species of crawling arthropods.
 20. The crawling arthropod barrier device of claim 1, further comprising: a pheromone that attracts at least one species of crawling arthropods, said pheromone applied to one of the following group: the side surface of the riser, the wall, the fluid in the moat. 